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Loews (L) Q2 Earnings Meet Estimates, Revenues Improve Y/Y

The quarter witnessed a better performance by CNA Financial CNA, Diamond Offshore DO and Loews Hotels and improved results from the parent company’s investment portfolio. However, lower earnings at Boardwalk Pipeline BWP and soft results from the parent company investment portfolio were partial dampeners.

Including asset impairment charges at Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO), the company reported net income of 69 cents, thereby rebounding from the year-ago quarter’s loss of 19 cents.

Revenues

Operating revenue of $3.3 billion increased 3% year over year. Rise in insurance premiums, contract drilling revenues and other revenues aided this improvement.

Behind the Headlines

Total expenses declined 16.7% year over year to $3 billion, mainly due to lower contract drilling expenses and other operating costs as well as a decrease in insurance claims & policyholders' benefits.

CNA Financial’s revenues increased 4.3% from the prior-year quarter to $2.4 billion. It reported net income attributable to Loews Corp. is $244 million, up 29% from the year-ago quarter. This improvement may be attributed to current accident year underwriting results from its core P&C business and higher realized investment gains. However, lower net investment income limited the upside.

Boardwalk Pipeline’s revenues inched up 3.2% year over year to $318 million. Net income attributable to Loews, plunged 65% year over year to $7 million, due to loss on the sale of a processing facility.

Loews Hotels’ revenues declined 4.2 % year over year to $181 million. Income attributable to Loews jumped to $10 million from $1 million in the year-ago quarter. Earnings improved on higher equity income from Universal Orlando joint-venture properties.

Diamond Offshore’s revenues improved 5.6% year over year to $399 million. Net income attributable to Loews was $7 million, comparing favorably with ($294 million) in the year-ago quarter. Higher fleet utilization and lower depreciation expense resulted mainly from the asset impairment charges taken in 2016.

Book value as of Jun 30, 2017 was $56.01 per share, up about 2.5% from $54.62 as of Dec 31, 2016.

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